Great Park deal in Irvine gets go-ahead

In the latest effort to move forward on a massive park planned for the former El Toro Marine base in Orange County, the City of Irvine has struck a new deal with the developer that is supposed to build thousands of homes around the parkland.

In a 3-2 vote late Tuesday, the Irvine City Council approved substantial changes to its 2005 agreement with Lennar Corp., which purchased the El Toro Marine base from the U.S. Navy to build thousands of homes around 1,347 acres of the now city-owned land that is being called the Orange County Great Park.

Under the agreement, Lennar will transfer 131 additional acres to Irvine and pay the city $58 million for infrastructure and park maintenance. In exchange, the housing giant would be let off the hook for some of its obligations to the city, including building a 45-hole golf course and leaving 173 acres of the base as farmland.

The deal also opens public land to limited development: It allows the city to build a police station, hotels, restaurants and retail space on portions of the nearly 1,500-acre expanse envisioned as parkland -- a footprint nearly twice the size of New York’s Central Park that designers liken to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and Balboa Park in San Diego.

City leaders who supported the plan say the infusion of cash will allow them to get a jump start on developing hundreds of acres into parkland, an endeavor that has floundered because of the collapse of the housing market.

The project relies on tax money expected from housing and commercial developments that were to be built surrounding the park, but those plans have been at a standstill. Councilman Larry Agran, who is also chairman of the city’s Orange County Great Park Corp., said the agreement will allow workers to start work on the park by demolishing runways by this fall.

“This is a truly a remarkable milestone, especially against the backdrop of an economic environment where almost no major projects other than traditional infrastructure are moving forward,” he said.

But those voting against the changes, including Councilwoman Christina Shea, expressed concern that they would pave the way for higher density and more development in and around the park and that they granted too many concessions to the struggling housing developer.

“This is just a bailout for Lennar and it’s a sellout to Irvine residents,” Shea said.

The developer said it will benefit by having more land to build on, developing shared infrastructure, such roads and sewers, and making progress toward a park that will make its property more desirable when homes eventually are built.

"That is the amenity that we're relying on," said Emile Haddad, president and CEO of Five Point Communities, a firm that manages the land at the old El Toro base for Lennar and other investors.

In a separate, 4-1 vote, the Irvine council also approved 1,269 additional housing units, entitling Lennar to build up to 4,894 units on land surrounding the park. City officials earlier this year approved a final design that includes intricate details of how the park is expected to look, complete with a man-made canyon, hiking trails, soccer fields and museums.

Leaders this year also gave the go-ahead for $61 million in spending they say will begin to transform 500 acres of the former military base into a park over the next three to five years.

--Tony Barboza at Irvine City Hall

Photo: At the intersection of Barranca and Alton parkways in Irvine in January a tractor and crew prepare the ground for green beans instead of neighborhoods.

Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[tarwater]

The picutre tells it all -- more houses and people in exchange for agricultural land. When the petroleum is gone we are certain to realize the folly.

[Gerrold]

No sense rushing ths project, huh?

[Mr. Z]

I see more bribes for the Irvine city countless in their future!!!

This is NO great park for the whole county this is a park for Irvine only!!

Anybody else from another city will pay an entrance fee or maybe have a coupon day where they can use the park only a few days a month.

THIS IS NOT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF ORANGE COUNTY THIS IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR IRVINE AND IRVINE ONLY!!!!

DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU, NOBODY ELSE HAS A SAY ABOUT ANYTHING BUT IRVINE!!!!

[Erik]

The long, sad, sorry saga of how the most logical site for a new southern california airport ended up as a massive give away to Lennar continues. Welcome to califonria, where no good job gets created unless it is associated with a tract home developer.

[Schigolch]

I tell you now: In 25 years that land will be an international airport. You know it and I know it.

[yadthink]

Why do I get the feeling that this massive project, which will affect the quality of life for millions of us, is being pushed forward in some back-room dealing?

[Scott]

what about the added water usage? does anyone know if that is being addressed?

[Ralph L. Seifer]

Wow, this is exciting news. Does this mean we're going to get a second tethered balloon, now??? Ralph L. Seifer, Long Beach

[Looking for balance]

After all the concessions (and the additional ones that will come), shouldn't "The Great Park" be downgraded to "The Good Park"? The problem is that, developers are trained professional negotiators, elected officials are, people who just got more of people to vote for them than the other guys running. Which group is going to better at negotiation? And in the election process, those running for office probably promised, probably more development! Every City s in a rush to make developers "like" them and "favor" them with the gift of development. Its backwards, the City need to have some backbone and stand firm. That won't happen, and trust me, there will be more changes favoring Lennar and the other developers and it will become "The Park like all Others". Thanks Irvine, it never should have been put in your hands. It was supposed to be the Orange County Park, it will be no big deal.

[Mark Isbell]

How about just leaving the marine base undeveloped?
Why must the Irvine company over-develop the entire
Saddleback Valley? This is NOT progress, it is urban decay!
More development means more people, more cars and traffic.
I'm really sick of the Irvine company not resting until they have
every single inch of our precious land paved over!

[brianguy]

it's in the middle of nowhere, out of reach to most OC residents. how it can be compared to Central Park or Golden Gate is beyond me, if it's even ever going to get built. nobody's going to get in their car and drive on the freeway to this.

maybe an airport isn't the best plan, but I still don't hear any better ideas. a big park definitely isn't one.

Councilwoman Christina Shea is right. no park bailout.

[brianguy]

man-made canyon? what is this, Disneyland? I think we have canyons already

[Ltpar]

Can anyone be surprised by the most recent round of actions at the "Great Park?" We can give Larry Agean, Beth Krom and Suhkee Kang credit for one thing........at least they are consistent, even if it is bad. This change in terms and conditions for Lenner is another one of those out of the public view, backroom deals that Agran and Company are famous for (Like the Maguire Property deal.) Using smoke and mirrors, they always make it seem like the Public is gaining something from their actions, but generally it is the developer, or Agran who come out ahead. With political campaign season coming up, I wonder if Lenner will be making generous contributions to one of Larry's favorite PAC Funds (Planning 2020?) Time will tell on that one. Bottom line is, what can the public expect from this and future deals between Agran and Lenner. How about more houses, double or triple the number originally agreed upon and less Great Park. Add to this, increased traffic from high density residential development, pupil impact on the schools and a logical person might ask, "Is this what I voted for when opting for the Great Park?

[Bill]

Reap what the what sowed. How many jobs would a regional airport brought verses this park concept. The only ones to benefit will be the lawyers, political hacks and developers. I would rather had a job opportunity at an airport rather than a park I can not afford to visit.